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American boys might participate in a range of family outings. The appearance of urban parks provided a range of opportunities in many cities. Family picnics into the country were popular. Hiking seems less popular in America than in European countries like America. A drive into the country in the family car seems more of the Americzan approach. This of course often ended with a picnic. And Henry Ford's Model T make the automobile afordable to the average country. Especially popular were county, and for the lucky, state fairs. There were also special expositions such a World Fairs. We note the Columbia Exposition in Chicago during 1983. There were a range of other outings such as circuses, such as the Barnum and Bailey circuses as well as smaller ones. Beach outings were also popular by the end of the 19th century, but here there were regional differences. People living along the coast could easily get to beaches. Some could even make day trips. Americans living in the mid-West had a long way to go to get to a beach, although Chicago had Lake Michigan. Only after World War II did the Middle Class have the ability to reach ocean beaches.
Beach outings were also popular by the end of the 19th century, but here there were regional differences. People living along the coast could easily get to beaches. Some could even make day trips. Americans living in the mid-West had a long way to go to get to a beach, although Chicago had Lake Michigan. Only after World War II did the Middle Class have the ability to reach ocean beaches. We have no information about American interest in the seaside and bathing during the 18th and early 19th century. After the Civil War, however, as the populatin of the great northeastern cities began to increase, there was great interest in seaside outings by all classes of society. People wanted to escape the sweltering tempeartures of the increasingly crowded cities for at least a short time during the summer. The expanding economy in America after the Civil War gave an ever greater proportion of the population the finacial ability for such outings. Wealthy peoole might spend the entire summer at beach resorts or their own summer "cottages". Beach resorts began to appear in the 1870s and by the 1880s, hundreds of beach resorts dotted the eastern seaboard. The impetus for this explosion was the steamy industrial cities of the northeast. A rising industrial workforce had more buying power than ever before and craved relief from the heat of the tenaments. A newly affluent middle class vitually created the concept of the summer vacation. A few cities like New York City had conveniently located beaches, but for others cities some travel was requited. The country's growing raolroad system soon offered inexpensived day trips to the beach from virtually every major city or the more affluent could afford to stay in the luxurious hotels that sprang up at the major beach resorts.
America unlike Europe in the ealy-19th century had few cities and the urban areas that did exist were much smaller than those in Europe. This mean that there were no established esident circuses like thise that had begun operating in Europe. And America was costantly expanding pushing the frotier ever westward with new communities forming as the country expanded west. America was a largely rural, but not poor country. Americans tended to be more afflunt than Europeans even in coonial times. Thus there was money to be made for showmen, but to access that markets they had to become mobile, becoming traveling companies. This began even before the railroads. The major problem was a prforming venue. This required a large enclosed area. There were no stadiums in America at the time, even in the cities. Joshuah Purdy Brown (1802?-1834) from Somers, New York solved the problem. He was the first circus entrepreneur to replace hard to transport wooden structures with a large canvas tent (1825). The major performers did their act in one central 'ring' in the tent. The idea was quickly adopted by other traveling groups and became associated with the circus--the Big Top (1830s). A wealthy cattle dealer named Hachaliah Bailey (1775-1845) lived near Brown in New York. On a lark he purchased a young African elephant. At the time, people may have heard of elphants, but never seen one or even seen pictures of one. There were no zoos, photography hd nog been invented and lithography (proving images in books and magazines) was still primitive. Thus there was a huge market interested in seeing exotic animals and not just the children. Bailey began exhibiting his elephnt and found he could actully make money doing so. He added exotic nimals an soon had a trveling menagerie. Bailey's succes was noted and some of his farmer neigbors copied his success and began adding curcus acts. This all occurred mostly in the Somers area. A group of 135 farmers and menagerie-owners, mostly in and around Somers, decided to join forces and organize (1835). They formed the Zoological Institute which was a trust that included 13 menageries and 3 affiliated circuses. It was a kind of traveling-circus and menagerie monopoly. The American circus became a traveling tent-show combined with a menagerie and run by businessmen. This contrasted with European circuses mostly controled by performing families. Traveling in early America where roads outside the major cities hardly existed put real constrints on the traveling circus. You could not move an elephant by covered wagon or stage coach. And speed was a constraint. Taking weeks to travel between venues mean that a good part of the year would be spent traveling, not making money. This problem was solved by the railroads which began to criss-cross America. This meant that circuses could expand and even even large circuses could rpidly reach every corner of the country. Former museum promoter and impresario Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) formed an alliance with circus entrepreneur William Cameron Coup (1837-95). They founded the P.T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie & Circus (1871). It was traveling show with a 'museum' at a time in which museums were only begining to appear in the larger cities. Barnum's Museum, included an exhibition of animal and human oddities. It was a hit and the 'Sideshow' became a virtually required part of any circus. Although when we think of circuses today, we think of Barnum and Bailey. Coup is largely unknow, although he played a mmajor role in the devlopment if the merican traveling circus. It was Coup who thought out a system of daily transportation by rail for their circus (1872). Another Coup innovations was the addition of a second ring in the Big Top. The circus by this time had become the sungle most popular form of entertainment in America. This was because of not only the acts and animls, but because it was mobile. Barnum and Coup's joint enterprise was the largest and most popular circus. Coup was intent on increasing the capacity of their tent which of course meant he could sell more tickets. Here there were structural limitations. The tents could only be so big. Thus the only way of expanding the tents was to lengthen them. This created a problem. Everything was vissible to the ufience in aound tent, but in a long tent there was no longer a clear view. Coup's answer was a second ring. Eventually a third ring was added (1881). Eventually even larger numbrs ppeared, but the three-ring circus was the industry stndard. Some purists complained, saying that the Anerican circus began focusing on spectacle over artistry. Circuses continud to remain the most popular form of American entertaiment for several decades. This gradually chnged in the 20th centuries, first with the movies and then with radio and eventually television. Even so the circus continued to be popular through mid-century. An American reader writes, "Sadly , another part of growing up in the 50s and 60s , the circus is no longer with us. I saw a few months ago in the news , the demise of the Barnum and Bailey Circus . I remember back in the early 60s going to the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus in Philadelphia . While my family and I were not dressed as formally as those in the photo we were certainly dressed more formally than people of this era. An event like that would have required me to at least wear a pair of dress trousers and button-down dress shirt." major problm the circus faces today is the animls. There us widespread public concrn over the rearment of the animals.
A variety of conveyances, especially waggons, tricycles, and bicycles were very important for outdoor play. There were many other conveyances such as Irish mails, pedal cars, and scooters. We notice both bikes and trikes in the the United States during the late-19th century. A good example of an early trike is an unidentified boy in 1881. Many American children had bikes. I think this was primarily a factor of the greater affluence of American families. Bikes were less common transport for workers, in part because Henry Ford followed by other manufactuers built cars within the price range of the average worker. Bikes were certainly items that were very popular with boys. Every boy wanted them. We believe that they were more common for boys, but especially after World War I, girls also had them. Styling seems to have been very similar in Europe and America. There are quite a number of bicycle and tricycle images loaded on HBC. Many of them are American images. I believe this reflects the general affluence of America and the fact thast many children had bicycles and tricycles.
A drive into the country in the family car seems more of the Americzan approach. This of course often ended with a picnic. And Henry Ford's Model T make the automobile afordable to the average country.
Especially popular were county, and for the lucky, state fairs. County fairs are on the list of items that are uniquely American--along with mom and apple pie. These fairs are strongly oriented toward agriculture, reflecting the agricultural economy of 19th century America. County fairs are moted for carnival rides and games, sideshows, crafts, quilts, livestock, and food. There were all sorts of competitions, including baking, preserves, livestock, and races (usually horse races. Many of the features are features that attract children and get them all excited. The carnival rides are foods are obvious attractions. Many children and teens also participate in the livestock events, putting up animals they raised themselves. People come from all over the county to participate and have fun. Some people may even come from outside the county. Every county and a state fair is unique, relecting he local character and agricltural products. Counties abnd states constructed fair rounds that were designed for these fairs, but could be used for other events as well. There were also special expositions such a World Fairs. We note the Columbia Exposition in Chicago during 1983.
Hiking seems less popular in America than in European countries like America.
Film making and entertainment have emerged as a major industry in America. The growth of the industry is a fascinating story. The production, distribution, and exhibition of films has evolved aloing with the changing structure of the industry. There have been a range of economic, industrial, and technological changes which have influenced the form and content of American films themselves. The industry began with kinetoscopes in the 1890s. Edison and his studio gave Amereica an early lead, but it was not until after World War I that America and Hollywood emerged as the film making capital of the world. Why this occurred is an interesting story which we do not yet fully understand. There has been a sea-change in how Americans see film--especially how children see them. Until World War II, American kids attended the Saurday mantinee. They usyally went with their friends, not their partents. Most kids by the time they began school did this. Older brothers would take younger brothers as did sisters. The kids would jam in the theaters. Front row seats were at a premium. They attended the neighborhood theater which was usually in walking distance of the home. It was the action pictures that were the great favorites. Stars like Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy, and Roy Roggers would bring thongs of kids--often toting their own six guns. The commotion could be deafening when the villan appeared or the hero rode to the rescue. Rooting for Hoppy at the top of your lungs with best friend was an important part of an American childhood. Given Hollywood's output, it is very difficult to develop a short list of the most important American films exploring American boyhood and illustrating boys' clothing. HBC has not restricted its list to just the more sophisticated, crtically acclaimed films. For example, the Disney film 'Follow Me Boys!' would not be on a short list of critically aclaimed film. Yet it does accurately reflect American boyhood or rather how many of us would ideally describe American boyhood and there is a great deal of information about clothing over the span of the film.
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HBC in the park section here has focused primarily on urban parks. This is because these parks appeared at about the same time photography appeared and there are wonderful images of people enjoying these parks over a wide time period. We notice the parkd being enjoyed by a wide social spectrum. And because urban parks weee located in urban are see them being enjoyed by children, bith boys and girls. Sometimes children have been brought to the parks by parents or nursemaids. Other children have come on their own. While we have focused on urban parks, the United States helped pioneer the concept of national and state parks. These parks were commonly located in remote areas and at first set around prominant landmarks and geological formarions. Gradually historical parks were added, often associated with the Rvolutionary od Civil War. Because of the locations, they were not easily accessible to working-class families. Attendance did not become common until after World War II when most families acquired cars and planned summer vacations.
The roots of the American penny arcade arose in an America hungry for entertainment. There were theatrical prformances as well as minstral shows. New entetainment venues developed in the late 19th centuries: circuses, dime museums, exposition midways, and amusements parlors. At the turn of the century the penny arcade developed. (The first use of the word has been found in 1903.) The penny arcade was an indoor area with enticing activities. It was free to get in, but most of the devices and booths cost a penny a play. And thnks to America's rising industruial cionomy, there were plnty of jids with pennies. The penny rcades were stocked with coin-operated mechanical games, photography booths, picture shows, and other fun amusements. Developing technolgy from the developing industrial economy made all kind of new amusements possible. New novelties included phonographs, kinetoscopes, and mutoscopes. What was to beome the movies first appeared in penny archades where short clips were viewed. Movie theaters did not appear until there were longer feature films. There were also peep show machines, shooting galleries, grip and strength testers, stationary bicycles, slot machines (where permitted), machines that dispensed fortunes or candy, and other mechanical amusements. And unlike diversions such as theatrical performances, all of this was avilable to kids as long as they had a penny or two. Some of the amusemnts cost more, but there were many penny machines. It was magical for the kids. Adults came as well, probbly men more than women. They could have the brand new experince of listening to recorded sounds and watching moving images. We see the arcades in big cities as well as towns and in tourist areas such s boardwalks. After World War I the novelty began to wear off. The Movies had develop full-length feature films (1910s), and then the talkies (1929). The arcade owners began to bring in new machines to keep up with the times. David Gottlieb�s Baffle Ball (1931) and Raymond Moloney�s Ballyhoo (1932) introduced pinball to arcades. Kids loved them and not just the kids. And manufacturers began adding refinements such as bumpers, flippers, blinking lights, and enticing artwork. There ere blinking lights, but the action was all mrchnical. Pinball became a part of the American scene for half a century. Othr new activities were a wide range of electromechanical baseball, target shooting, horse racing, shuffle board, and bowling games. In some places they were banned, accusing them as conncted with gambling, organized crime, and delinquency--rather like pool hslls. his continued until the 1990s hn computer video games bcanm to enter the American arcade. The penny attraction had long past.
Picnics and the word itself have European royal origins, associated with royal and aristocratic hunting parties when the participants would stop for a bite to eat without returning to the castle. The original word was 'pique-nique' used to describe the well-to- do who brought their own wine while dining out, not wanting to chance getting served inferior wine (16th century). This was still a =related to the well-to-do. Word meanings change over time and the term had come to mean dining outside on a blanket, at least in England (17th century). Of course there was little of that in America at the time. It was during the Victorian era (19th century) period that picnic began to take on its modern meaning. It was the Victorians that turned it into a middle-class practice, primarily because of the rising prosperity of the middle-class and skilled workers. Still there were limitations, primarily transport. Working-class people had no way to gt out into the country to enjoy a picnic, especially with all the food a paraphernalia associated with a picnic. Here Henry-Ford and the trusty Model-T Tin Lizzie solved the problem. At least in America, working people could afford a car giving them unprecedented mobility. Average people could pile the kids, food, drink, blankets, and dishes into the car and get out of the city and enjoy a pleasant day in the country side for a family treat. It was a fun way to spend a beautiful day in the country side, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Depending on the site, a dip, boating fishing, horse shoes, or other summer pastime was often on offer. And because it was inexpensive, most families could afford it. And it could be enjoyed with other family members and friends. And as urban parks sprouted around the country, picnic tables and cooking grates were added. Picnic foods have varied over time, especially as they became a treat for the wider public. Picnics in the 19th century while no longer restricted to the rich were more formal and still a treat for the better off section of society. They might include roast duck or chicken, pate foie gras, meat pies, scotch eggs, plum pudding, cheesecake and cold ham or roast beef. Drink was very important and might include claret, sherry and brandy--all served on elegant dishware and glasses. Paper plates and plastic cutlery did not appear until after World war II. People actually dressed up for these events. Men might wear boaters and blazers. Women might wear white or colorful dresses. The really affluent might add coddled trout, dressed lobster, roasted guinea fowl, and even chilled champagne. Americans of course brought the picnic down to earth for the common man. They became simpler and more informal. European immigrants added the frankfurter which became the hot dog when a bun was added. As a result it became standard fair at baseball games and street side food carts. It was tailor made for picnics as the the hamburger. These were foods that could easily be cooked on site. Cold fried chicken was another favorite--although until after World War II, chicken was not low-priced meat. Baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw also became standard picnic fair and of course mom's apple pie. there were regional variations, especially in the south. Here we see barbecue, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, pecan or sweet potato pie, and watermelon.
The family summer vacation is today a well established The family vacation is a relatively modern phenomenon. It is an artifact of the industrial revolution and people living in cities. Before the industrial revolution people neither took vacations or were given leave so they could take vacations. And transportation systems were not only expensive, but did nor allow families to travel to and from vacation spots. Wealthy people of course could travel in styule to wherver they wanted, any time of the year. Average people, even the comfortable middle class, could not. This began to change in the late-19th century. Labor unions began pushing for paid vacations and companies began offering them to workers. The wealth generated by the industrial revolution provided workers for the first time in history, the ability to lead comfortable lives. And the family vacation became one of the new amenities offered by expanding industrial economies. At the same time, the railroads provided an economical way for the family to reach distant locations. Henry Ford's Model-T Ford offered inexpensive automobiles to workers so that if they chose, the family could take off in the automobile. Motels sprung up all over the country to provide low-cost accomodation top families on the move. In the prosperous post-World War II, most American families took off in the family car during the summer. Dad usually got 2 weeks off, mom didn't work, and the kids were on summer vacation from school. Driving was an important part of the whole experience and this gave birt to the motor home. There was plenty to do and see. Some families liked the great outdoors and seenery. Others liked historical sites. Rural people headed for the big cities. City people headed for the countryside. Easteners headed west. Westerners headed east. Those in the middle had a choice. Visting the grandparents was also a popular family activity. Disney and others created destination parks.
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